Eric Frein prosecution wants video of trooper ambush sealed

Eric Frein is escorted to a state police vehicle following his preliminary hearing at the Pike County Courthouse in Milford on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Eric Frein is escorted to a state police vehicle following his preliminary hearing at the Pike County Courthouse in Milford on Monday, January 5, 2015. (Harry Fisher / THE MORNING CALL)

Beth BreljeOf the Pocono Record (TNS)

Prosecution in Eric Frein case wants to seal video of trooper ambush

The surveillance video from the state police barracks in Blooming Grove showing the shooting of two troopers — and used as evidence in the Eric Frein case — has been temporarily sealed.

The video, shown at Frein's preliminary hearing Monday, shows the Sept. 12 murder of Cpl. Bryon Dickson, the shooting of Trooper Alex Douglass, and the reaction of the troopers and staff in the station.

Police say Frein hid in a sniper's den and ambushed the troopers during a shift change without warning. The video shows about 20 minutes of that night.

Once presented in court, evidence becomes an open judicial record. However, on Monday, the state filed a motion asking for the video evidence to be sealed. On Tuesday, Judge Gregory Chelak granted the motion sealing the video until Jan. 23, when a hearing on the matter will be held.

The hearing, at the Pike County Courthouse, will determine if the video remains sealed.

After Frein's preliminary hearing Monday, at least five news outlets asked for a copy of the graphic video, according to Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin. The Pocono Record was not among them.

The preliminary hearing for alleged cop killer, Eric Frein, is held at the Pike County Courthouse in Milford, on January 5th. (HARRY FISHER / THE MORNING CALL)

"At this point, the requests were not granted because the court order prohibited us," Tonkin said. "Based on the circumstances of this case, we requested the court seal this evidence."

"There is a potential for certain groups to use videos depicting violence against law enforcement as motivation for further acts of violence against law enforcement," Tonkin said, adding that there is the potential that the playing of the video could cause further mental anguish to the victims and their families.